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Canisius University Athletics

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Brooklyn Thrash shoots
Damone Mayfield
65
Winner Niagara Niag 10-11,7-4 MAAC
55
Canisius Canis 11-9,6-5 MAAC
Winner
Niagara Niag
10-11,7-4 MAAC
65
Final
55
Canisius Canis
11-9,6-5 MAAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Niagara Niag 20 10 18 17 65
Canisius Canis 12 14 11 18 55

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Niagara Defeats Women's Basketball in the Battle of the Bridge

Niagara used multiple long scoring stretches to defeat Canisius in wire-to-wire fashion, 65-55, in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women's basketball action Tuesday evening at the Koessler Athletic Center.
 
With the win, the Purple Eagles improved to 10-11 overall and 7-4 in MAAC play while the Golden Griffins stumbled to 11-9 overall and 6-5 in conference action.
 
Aaliyah Parker paced Niagara with 15 points with her sister Angel adding in 14 points of her own while also dishing out a team-best four assists. On the glass, Saige Glover hauled in a game-high 10 boards for the visitors.
 
Sophomore Brooklyn Thrash led the Griffs with a season-high 13 points with fellow sophomore, Sisi Eleko, finishing one rebound short of a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds. Junior Athina Lexa joined the duo in double figures as she totaled 11 points to finish in double figures for the fifth time in six games. Senior Mackenzie Amalia tallied a game-high five assists.
 
Niagara opened the contest on a 14-4 run over the five five minutes of the contest to build a quick double-digit lead. The Griffs responded to the Purple Eagles quick start as they closed the frame with a 6-2 spurt, capped by a Lexa 3-pointer at the buzzer, to cut their deficit to 20-12 entering the second quarter.  
Lexa's buzzer-beater sparked the Griffs in the second stanza as they embarked on a 12-5 run, paced by six points from Thrash, to get to within one of Niagara, 25-24, with 2:43 left before the half.
  Niagara took control of the game moments later, as a layup by Aaliyah Parker sparked a 16-5 run that lasted through the halftime break and to the midway point of the third quarter, giving the Purple Eagles a 41-29 advantage.  

The teams proceeded to trade baskets over the next 11-plus minutes of game play before a quick 6-1 surge by the Griffs with less than two minutes to play in the fourth brought Canisius within seven, 62-55. 

The Purple Eagles kept the Griffs from getting any closer, however, converting three of their final four attempts from the charity stripe to close out the 10-point victory. 
 
POSTGAME COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH SAHAR NUSSEIBEH  
GAME NOTES
• Tuesday's game marked the 103rd meeting between the two longtime rivals. Canisius still leads the all-time series, 60-43, and holds a 33-20 record against Niagara at home.
• The 103 meetings between the two Battle of the Bridge rivals are the tied with Maine and New Hampshire for the eighth most-played rivalry in Division I women's basketball history.
• Thrash finished in double-figures for the first time this season with her 13 point-outing Tuesday. 
• With her nine rebounds, Eleko moves into sole possession of fourth place all-time for total rebounds in a single season by a sophomore with 207. She now needs 10 to pass Anne Brocker (1989-93) for third place.
• The starting lineup of Eleko, Thrash, Amalia, Bri Rozzi and Grace Heeps was used for the 18th time this season and 16th consecutive game. The platoon is now 10-8 overall this year when they start a game.
• Canisius held an opponent to 10-or-less points in a quarter for the fifth time in its last seven games as they limited the Purple Eagles to 10 points in the second quarter.
• The Griffs went 14-of-26 (.538) from the free-throw line while Niagara was 16-of-26 (.615) at the charity stripe.
• Both teams shot below 35 percent from deep as Niagara was 5-of-15 (.333) while Canisius went 3-of-13 (.231).
 
UP NEXT
Canisius is back in action on Saturday with a home contest against Saint Peter's for National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m., at the Koessler Athletic Center, with the game airing on ESPN+.
 
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